Colorectal cancer doctor outlines five things she avoids

Dr. Ursina Teitelbaum highlights that family history affects colorectal cancer risk and that screening guidance recommends starting at age 45.

Dr. Ursina Teitelbaum, a gastrointestinal medical oncologist at Penn Medicine, describes five practices she avoids to reduce colorectal cancer risk. Colorectal cancer is the third-most common cancer worldwide and can be hard to detect early because symptoms often resemble other conditions. Incidence has risen among younger adults in recent years, and screening guidance was updated to address that trend. Early detection is generally associated with more effective treatment. Key points: - Family history is a strong risk factor; up to one in three people with colorectal cancer have affected relatives. - The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force updated guidance in 2021 to recommend starting screening at age 45, using colonoscopy or stool-based tests. - Rates of colorectal cancer have increased among younger adults, and early symptoms such as changes in bowel habits can be subtle or mistaken for other causes. - More than half of colorectal cancers are linked to modifiable lifestyle and environmental factors, with smoking, alcohol, low physical activity, and diets high in red or processed meats cited as associated risks. - Discussing bowel changes openly can help identify warning signs; examples mentioned include pencil-thin stools, blood in stool, persistent diarrhea, fatigue, or unexplained anemia. Summary: Teitelbaum’s observations underscore known risk factors, common reasons for delayed diagnosis, and the role of screening guidance in clinical practice. The points emphasize attention to family history, symptom recognition, and lifestyle factors as part of ongoing clinical and public-health conversations. Undetermined at this time.